Circuit breaker enclosure with external operating handle and combination thereof with circuit breaker



1969 T. J. RYS ETAL CIRCUIT BREAKER ENCLOSURE WITH EXTERNAL OPERATINGHANDLE AND COMBINATION THEREOF WITH CIRCUIT BREAKER Sheet of Filed May17, 1967 INVENTOR.

Jan. 14, 1969 Ys A 3,422,238

CIRCUIT BREAKER ENCLOSURE WITH EXTERNAL OPERATING HANDLE AND COMBINATIONTHEREOF WITH CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed May 17, 1967 Sheet 2 of 3 I 264 35'23 .4 Fz; j I 52% Z0 10 2/ 14 I 14; 1} -12 17 n I J 22 INVENTOR. w BY1314 A 770/?NE'K Jan. 14, 1969 RYS T 3,422,238

CIRCUIT BREAKER ENCLOSURE WITH EXTERNAL OPERATING HANDLE AND COMBINATIONTHEREOF WITH CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed May 17, 1967 Sheet 3 of 3 INVENTOR.

( 5 f -ArmeAle-x United States Patent 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE The present improvement resides principally in a driving lostmotion connecting means between a manually operable external operatinghandle which is movable to On and Off positions, selectively, and asettable circuit breaker handle which is moved by mechanism in thebreaker to On and Off positions, respectively, with a snap action whenthe breaker handle is moved a predetermined distance toward a selectedone of said positions, and which is moved from On position to anintermediate position upon tripping of the breaker.

The lost motion connecting means comprises a rocking bar connected tothe breaker handle and rockable about a predetermined axis; a drivingcam surface on the bar in eccentric relation to the axis of the bar; anda driving pin swingable by the manually operable external operatinghandle about an axis parallel to and offset from the rocking axis of thebar. The pin and cam surfaces are spaced from their respective rockingaxes so that the pin remains in driving engagement with the cam surface,and thereby moves the bar toward On position during predeterminedmovement of the external operating handle toward On position, so thatthe breaker handle snaps to On position and rocks the bar with it,whereupon the pin passes out of driving engagement with, and in spacedtrailing relation to, the cam surface when the bar is moved by thebreaker handle as the handle move to On position, and leaves the breakerhandle and bar free to be moved from On position to an intermediateposition by the breaker upon the tripping of the circuit breaker.

This invention relates to a protective enclosure for a circuit breakerand an enclosure and circuit breaker combination wherein the circuitbreaker can be sealed in the protective enclosure and its operatinghandle operated in its intended manner by a manual operating handledisposed at the exterior of the enclosure and so connected to thecircuit breaker handle as to operate it in the usual manner whilereleasing the circuit breaker handle for movement out of its On positionby the breaker, upon tripping of the breaker due to overloads and thelike, while the external operating handle remains in the On position.

More specifically the combination includes a circuit breaker having abreaker operating handle movable to Off and On positions, selectively,and which, when moved partway toward the selected position, is movedwith a snap action by a snap acting mechanism within the breaker fullyto the selected position. The breaker handle, when in the On position,can be moved by the breaker to an intermediate position upon tripping ofthe breaker. An external operating handle is carried by the enclosureand is drivingly connected to the breaker handle by a lost motionconnection such that the operating handle can move the breaker handle inthe normal manner sufficiently toward the On and Off positions,selectively, to cause the snap acting mechanism of the breaker to movethe breaker handle fully to the selected position. The lost motionconnection is such that, upon movement of the breaker handle fully to Onposition, the lost motion connection releases the breaker handle fromthe operating handle and permits free movement of the breaker handle tothe intermediate postiion by the breaker upon tripping of the breaker.

Various specific advantages and features of the invention will becomeapparent from the following description wherein reference is made to thedrawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a front end elevation of an enclosure and circuit breaker andtheir combination embodying the principles of the present invention,part of the door of the enclosure being broken away for clearness inillustration;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in section, of theenclosure and the operating connection between the external handle ofthe enclosure and the operating handle of the circuit breaker within theenclosure;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 33 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the the externaloperating handle and connections between it and the circuit breakerhandle, and the rocking axes of the handles and connections, other partsof the structure being omitted for clearness in illustration;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic side elevation showing the relative position ofthe circuit breaker handle and the driving mechanism therefor in the Offposition of the breaker handle;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing the same elements in a deadcenter position in moving from Off to On position of the breaker handle;and

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIGS. 5 and 6, but showing the relativeposition of the parts in the On position of the breaker handle.

For purposes of illustration, the present invention is shown asincorporated in a switch enclosure of the type disclosed in Patent3,378,666 and connected to a circuit breaker of the type disclosed inPatent 3,345,591.

As more fully disclosed in the above applications, the switch enclosurecomprises a box with a hinged door which can be drawn into tight sealingposition when closed. The sealing mechanism for the door is operated byan external sealing lever, being fully disclosed in the aboveapplication and it is omitted from the present disclosure for brevity.It forms no part of the present improvement.

Referring to the drawings, the enclosure comprises a box 1 which is openat the front and has a peripheral edge 2 defining the access openingwhich is closed by a hinged door 3. The door is provided with suitableperipheral seal 4 which seats against the edge 2 of the box when thedoor is closed. The door may be drawn fixedly and firmly into sealingrelation by suitable mechanism, not shown, operated by sealing lever 5,and suitable interlocks may be provided for preventing the opening ofthe door under certain conditions, all as described in the aboveidentified applications.

The present invention is directed to the adaptation of the enclosure forcooperation with a circuit breaker instead of the conventional switch.The circuit breaker 10-, as fully described in the above copendingapplication of James H. Leonard et al. insofar as is pertinent to thepresent invention, is characterized by having a settable breakeroperating handle 11 which, in the form illustrated, is movable upwardlyin FIG. 1, to an On position and downwardly to an Off position. Snapacting means, not shown, in the breaker 10 drive the handle 11, see FIG.3, with a snap action to On and Off positions, selectively, when thehandle is moved manually a predetermined distance partway toward theselected positions, respectively. The handle 11 is moved from On tointermediate position by the breaker mechanism when the breaker istripped by overload and the like.

The breaker mechanism is mounted in a suitable molded housing 12 whichis secured in fixed position within the box 1 on the back wall thereofby suitable bolts or the like.

The specific type of circuit breaker, and the means in the breaker bywhich the snap action of the handle 11 is effected forms no part of thepresent invention.

As heretofore mentioned, the principal feature of the present inventionresides in the connection of an external operating handle on theenclosure and the operating handle 11 of the breaker.

An external operating handle 13 is mounted on, and for rotation With, arock shaft 14 which is supported in a suitable external bearing 15secured by bolts 16 to a boss 17 on one side wall of the box 1. Thesealing lever 5 is mounted between the handle 13 and the side wall, andis rockable independently of the handle 13 for driving sealing mechanismin the box which draws the door into sealing position under certainconditions.

The shaft 14 is provided with an out-of-round portion 19 which ispreferably hexagonal and fits a suitable aperture in the handle 13 sothat the shaft and handle 13 are rotatable as a unit. The shaft 14extends through a suitable aperture 20 in the side wall of the box andits inner end has a cylindrical bearing portion 21.

Mounted on the hexagonal portion of the shaft 14 within the box is adriver 22 which is secured in fixed position on a cam 23 so as to berockable with the rock shaft 14 as the rock shaft is rocked by theoperating handle 13. The driver 22 and cam 23 provide a rockableoperator.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 5, the cam 23 is provided with a slot24 in which a cross pin 25 is disposed. The pin 25 is operativelyconnected to a dead center spring 26 arranged so that, when the cam ismoved clockwise toward the On position by the handle 13 past a deadcenter position, the spring is operative to drive the cam 23 and handle13 to the full On position of the handle 13, and, when the cam is movedby the handle 13 counterclockwise in FIG. 2 past dead center position,the spring is operative to drive the cam and handle 13 to the fully Offposition. The above structure is disclosed in the above prior copendingapplications.

In order to drive the circuit breaker handle 11 by the cam 23 inresponse to movement of the handle 13, and yet permit the circuitbreaker handle 11 to move to an inter mediate position upon tripping ofthe breaker caused by overload and the like, a suitable breaker operator27 is provided.

The breaker operator 27 comprises a rocking bar 30 having at its lowerend an aperture 31 by which it is pivotally secured by a pivot 32 to asuitable bracket 33 secured on the interior of the box so that the bar30 can swing freely about the axis of the pivot 32. The cylindricalportion of the shaft 14 at the inner end of the rock shaft 14 isrotatably supported in the bracket 33.

The bar 30 has a lateral extension 35 which provides an actuating memberfor the breaker operating handle 11. The extension 35 extends inwardlytransversely of the enclosure in a direction generally endwise of therock shaft 14. At its inner end, the extension is provided with a springclip connection 36 which is preferably of U-shape construction openingtoward the breaker handle 11 and having arms 36a which engage oppositefaces of the handle 11 for moving the handle toward On and Off positionsupon rocking of the bar 30 about the axis of the pivot 32.

The actuating extension 35 and bar 36 are driven by the cam 23 with alost motion means. This means comprises a drive pin 38 on the cam 23which operates against an internal cam surface 39 on the bar 315. It isto be noted that the pin 38 is rockable about the axis of the shaft 14,whereas the bar 30 is rockable about the axis of the pivot 2 which isparallel to, but offset from the axis of the shaft 14. With thiseccentric relation, and the proper shape of the internal cam surface 39,when the handle 13 is rocked toward On position, the pin 38 engages thesurface 39 and rocks the bar 30 toward On position. This movementcontinues until the handle 11 moves with a snap action to On position,rocking with it the bar 30. The lost motion connection between the pin38 and the bar 30 permits the bar 30 to be swung freely by the handle 11from On position to a position intermediate the Off and On positionsWhen the circuit breaker is tripped by an overload or fault current.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5 through 7, the internal cam surface 39 has aninternally projecting lobe or peak 40 with a valley 41 at one side and avalley 42 at the opposite side of the lobe. When the external operatinghandle 13 is in the Off position, the pin 38 is in the valley 41. Inthis position the cincuit breaker handle 11 is in Off position, and thebreaker is fully open.

Upon rotation of the cam 23 clockwise in FIG. 6, the pin 38 climbs alongthe left hand side of the lobe 40 moving the 'bar 30 clockwise until thehandle 11 reaches its dead center position as illustrated in FIG. 6,wherein the pin 38 is near the crest of the lobe 40. Thereupon thehandle 11 drives the bar 31) clockwise as it closes the breaker. Also,the spring 26 becomes effective for moving the cam 23 and handle 13 toOn position.

The rising of the pin 33 along the left hand side of the lobe 40 is dueto the eccentricity of the axis of rotation of the pin 38 and the bar30. By the time the pin 38 passes the lobe, the handle 11 has snapped toOn position, as illustrated in FIG. 7. When the pin 38 has passed thelobe, it will continue to be moved by the cam 23 under the influence ofthe spring 26, to the fully On position illustrated in FIG. 7. Due tothe eccentricity of the axes of the cam 23 and bar 30, the pin 38, afterpassing the lobe, trails behind the right hand side of the valley 42 andremains spaced therefrom and from the left hand wall of the valley 42.In this position, the bar 30 is free to swing counterclockwise in FIG. 7until the right hand wall of the valley 42 engages the pin 38, asindicated in dotted lines in FIG. 7. The counterclockwise movementpermitted is sufficient to permit the circuit breaker handle 11 to bemoved freeTy to its intermediate position, Without hindrance by the cam23, handle 13, and the driving connections therebetween upon tripping ofthe circuit breaker by an overload.

Upon tripping of the breaker the external operating handle 13 remains inOn position, and it is desirable to indicate this condition. For thispurpose, a suitable flag 45 is provided on the extension 35 of the bar30 and is positioned so that, when the circuit breaker handle 11 is inthe intermediate position, the flag 45 is exposed beneath a window 46 inthe door 3. Thus, even though the handle 13 is in an On position, theinterrupted condition of the circuit breaker is indicated.

In order to reset or close the circuit breaker, it is necessary only tomove the operating handle 13, and thereby the breaker handle 11, firstto the Off position, or counterclockwise in FIG. 2, then, when thehandle 13 and handle 11 are in the Off position, to move the handle 13to On position for reclosing the breaker.

Usually, however, when tripped, the handle 13 is operated to open thecircuit breaker which is inspected and serviced before reclosure by thehandle 13 after closing and sealing the door 3.

By this arrangement, a lost motion connection is provided between theexternal operating handle 13 and the operating handle 11 of the circuitbreaker within the enclosure without interfering witht the normal andintended operation of the circuit breaker.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. An enclosure for a circuit breaker including a breaker operatinghandle movable to On and Off positions, selectively, and snap actingmeans connected to the breaker operating handle for driving it with asnap action to the selected one of said positions when it is moved to apredetermined distance toward the selected position, and said breakeroperating handle being movable by the breaker to an intermediateposition upon tripping of the breaker;

said enclosure comprising a box adapted to support the breakerinteriorly;

an external operating handle mounted on the box for movement to On andOff positions, selectively;

a rocking bar mounted in the box for rocking about a predetermined axis;

a rockable operator mounted in the box forrocking about a predeterminedaxis and connected to the bar for rocking the bar upon predeterminedrocking of the operator, and means connecting the external operatinghandle to the operator for rocking the operator thereby;

the improvement wherein the bar is adapted for connection to the breakeroperating handle for moving the breaker operating handle toward saidpositions of the breaker operating handle, selectively, upon rocking ofthe bar about its axis, and for rocking of the bar about its axis by thebreaker operating handle;

the rockable operator has its predetermined rocking axis offset radiallyfrom said predetermined axis of the bar;

,lost motion connecting means connect the operator to the bar so as torock the bar sufiiciently toward On and Off positions, selectively, uponmovement of the external operating handle a predetermined distancetoward On and Off positions, respectively, to cause the snap actingmeans to move the breaker operating handle, and thereby continue themovement of the bar, in the selected direction, fully to the selectedoperating position of the breaker operating handle; and

said lost motion connecting means includes means operative, uponmovement of the bar by the external operating handle sufficiently towardOn position of the breaker operating handle to cause the snap actingmeans to move the breaker operating handle to On position, to releasethe bar for continued movement by the breaker operating handle to the Onposition, and to release the bar for free return of the bar by thebreaker operating handle to the intermediate position upon tripping ofthe breaker while the external operating handle remains in On position.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein the bar and op- 3. The structure ofclaim 2 wherein the bar is provided with a cam surface eccentric to therocking'axis of the bar,

the operator is provided with a pin eccentric to the rocking axis of theoperator and engageable with said cam surface for driving the bar, uponrocking of the operator, in a direction for causing the bar to move thebreaker operating handle said predetermined distance toward the Onposition; and

said cam surface and eccentricity of said axes being related to causethe pin to disengage said cam surface and assume a position spacedtherefrom when the bar, operator, and external operating handle aremoved to fully On position, whereby the bar can be moved to its saidintermediate position unhindered by the pin.

4. The structure according to claim 3 wherein the cam surface comprisesa lobe and valleys leading and trailing the lobe, respectively, in thedirection of rocking the bar toward On position of the breaker operatinghandle;

the pin is positioned to engage the leading wall of the trailing valleyinitially when the operator is moved partway toward On position, and topass the lobe and move into the leading valley in spaced relation toboth walls thereof as the external operating handle and operator aremoved to fully On position, and the bar is moved by the breakeroperating handle to fully On position, so as to permit said movement ofthe bar from On to intermediate position unhindered by the pin; and

said trailing wall of the leading valley is positioned to be engaged bythe pin upon movement of the operator by the external operating handle apredetermined distance from On position toward Off position andto bemoved by the pin for moving the bar sufliciently toward Off position forreturn of the bar to fully Off position by the breaker operating handle.

5. A protective enclosure adapted to support a circuit breakerinteriorly:

a ci rcpit breaker in the enclosure and including a breaker operatinghandle movable to On and Off positions, selectively, and snap actingmeans connected to the breaker operating handle for driving it with asnap action to the selected one of said positions when it is moved apredetermined distance toward the selected position, and said breakeroperating handle being movable by the breaker to an intermediateposition upon tripping of the breaker;

an-external operating handle mounted on the box for movement to On andOff positions, selectively;

a rocking bar mounted in the box for rocking about a predetermined axis;

a rockable operator mounted in the enclosure for rocking about a secondpredetermined axis offset from the first predetermined axis andconnected to the bar for rocking the bar upon predetermined rocking ofthe operator; and means connecting the external operating handle to theoperator for rocking the operator thereby;

the improvement wherein the bar is connected to the breaker operatinghandle for moving the breaker operating handle toward said positions ofthe breaker operating handle, selectively, upon rocking of the bar aboutits axis, and for rocking of the bar about its axis by the breakeroperating handle;

lost motion connecting means connect the operator to the bar so as torock the :bar sufficiently toward On and. Off positions, selectively,upon movement of the external operating handle a predetermined distancetoward On and OE positions, respectively, to cause the snap acting meansto move the breaker operating handle, and thereby continue the movementof the bar, in the selected direction, fully to the selected operatingposition of the breaker operating handle; and

said lost mot-ion connecting means includes means operative, uponmovement of the bar by the external operating handle sufficiently towardOn position of the breaker operating handle to cause the snap actingmeans to move the breaker operating handle to On position, to releasethe bar for continued movement by the breaker operating handle to the Onposition, and to release the bar for free return of the bar by thebreaker operating handle to the intermediate position upon tripping ofthe breaker while the external operating handle remains in On position.

6. The structure according to claim 5 wherein the circuit breaker isenclosed in a molded case which, in turn, is enclosed in the enclosure;

the enclosure has a door;

a window is provided in the door; and

indicating means connected for movement in predetermined relation to the:breaker operating handle are provided, and are moved to position forviewing through the window when the breaker operating handle is moved toits said intermediate position.

7. The structure according to claim 6 wherein the indicating means arecarried by, and are movable with, the bar.

(References on following page) References Cited 1,801,866

UNITED STATES ATE TS 2,272,730

2/1941 Jackson 200-167 XR 3,227,831 :8/1948 Adams 200-167 5/1960 Cutleret a1. 200-167 XR 7/1966 Farina et a1. 200-168 5 ROBERT K. SCHAEFER,Primary Examiner.

H. O. JONES, Assistant Examiner.

Jennings 200-67 Hammerly 200-67 Smith et a1 200-67 Jacks et a1.

